McDonald's is testing cheaper mix-and-match and fixed-price meal bundles at about 1,900 U.S. restaurants, including a McChicken and small fries for $3.50. The goal is a national rollout in early 2027.
Cheaper McDonald's meals are on the way. Just not at every location yet.
McDonald's said Wednesday, Nov. 4, that it's testing new entry-level value bundles at about 1,900 U.S. restaurants, with plans to launch a national program in early 2027. One test combo pairs a McChicken with small fries for $3.50, the Associated Press reported.
The reason is simple: fewer people came in. U.S. comparable sales slipped 0.2% in the third quarter, McDonald's said in its earnings release. Guest counts fell, and bigger average checks covered most of the gap.
That's McDonald's first U.S. sales dip since early 2025, the AP reported, though Wall Street expected worse, a 0.5% drop.
"Customers should see a clear and compelling value proposition every time they consider McDonald's," CEO Chris Kempczinski said on the earnings call. Translation: the menu board needs to look cheap again.
What are McDonald's new value bundles?
Two kinds are in an eight-week test that started the week before the call, Kempczinski said. Both run across every daypart in "a handful of regions."
Mix-and-match bundles: You build your own combo. Bloomberg reported one version lets customers pick two items from the McDouble, McChicken, six-piece Chicken McNuggets and fries for $3.50 to $4, depending on the market. Breakfast versions are being tested, too.
Fixed bundles: A set combination at one price, meant to make ordering simpler.
McDonald's hasn't named the test markets or set final prices.
Some franchisees didn't wait. Owners of about 4,000 more restaurants have already added similar entry-level bundles, Kempczinski said. All told, about 40% of the U.S. system is running some version of it.
When will cheaper McDonald's bundles come to every location?
Early 2027, if the test pans out. Kempczinski said it would be "premature" to share results after one week.
Keep in mind that franchisees own about 95% of U.S. McDonald's restaurants, the AP noted. Deals and prices at your local spot can still vary.
What McDonald's deals can you get right now?
McDonald's leaned on a few offers to stop the slide in the third quarter, CFO Ian Borden said on the call:
App deals: a $2 breakfast sandwich and free fries with a $1 minimum purchase, part of a batch of regional and national digital offers it brought back
Extra Value Meals: including a $5 Sausage McMuffin with Egg meal and an $8 Big Mac meal
Offers vary by location, so check the app before you pull into the drive-thru.
It seemed to help. U.S. comparable sales turned positive in September after slightly negative results in July and August, Kempczinski said. Unit sales of the top Extra Value Meal combos are up about 7% from last year, Borden said.
Why did McDonald's traffic fall?
Money is tight, and fast food feels it first. Higher gas prices and the cost of living are pushing customers away, the AP reported. Across U.S. fast food, foot traffic fell 2.6% in the quarter, according to consultant Revenue Management Solutions.
McDonald's own fixes also missed. Its April menu of about 10 items at $3 or less never caught on. Borden pointed to low awareness and uneven franchisee execution, Restaurant Dive reported. In August, Kempczinski said only about 60% of restaurants were offering it, and McDonald's replaced its U.S. president that month, the AP reported.
"You need to have good entry-level value, particularly with the low-income consumer," Kempczinski said, according to the AP.
How did McDonald's do overall in the third quarter?
Better for Wall Street than for the drive-thru line.
Revenue: $7.16 billion, up 1%, a little under the $7.28 billion analysts expected, the AP reported
Adjusted earnings: $3.57 a share, beating the $3.38 forecast
Global comparable sales: up 1.5%, led by Germany, Australia and Japan
Dividend: up 4% to $1.93 a share
Shares rose more than 5% in Wednesday morning trading. Not bad for a quarter when fewer people showed up.
Don't expect the whole menu to get cheaper, though. Kempczinski said McDonald's still expects mid-single-digit inflation on food and paper costs, and Borden wouldn't promise better U.S. sales in the fourth quarter. For now, the cheapest route to a McChicken probably runs through the app.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
McDonald's (Nov. 4, 2026), third-quarter earnings release: comparable sales, guest counts, financials, dividend and Kempczinski's statement
Investing.com (Nov. 4, 2026), earnings call transcript: the bundle test, franchisee numbers, digital offers, Extra Value Meal results and fourth-quarter comments
Associated Press via Fast Company and KSAT (Nov. 4, 2026), the $3.50 McChicken bundle, Wall Street expectations, industry traffic, franchise ownership and the McValue history
Restaurant Dive (Nov. 4, 2026), test details and Borden's comments on the $3 and under menu
Bloomberg via The Spokesman-Review (Nov. 1, 2026), the mix-and-match bundle items and $3.50 to $4 prices
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